I'm getting in on this discussion rather late I understand, but I've seen just the opposite in MO. This has been the most productive rut I've encountered. I was seeing bucks the last week of October, just upcruising. I RARELY see bucks before November, and by the 3rd I had one on the ground. The days after I shot my buck, we were at our place in southern MO. We saw.....let me think here.......4 or 5 mature bucks chasing does, and at least twice that many young bucks chasing....

We have seen lots of rubs, scrapes, and lots of movement. I haven't been in the woods in over a week, so I'm not sure what's going on out there right now.